General

How do I get an account in the Computer Technology Center (CTC)?

User names and passwords are provided by the CTC lab (room 1400). They are provided only to those students who are legitimately enrolled in one or more computer-related courses that uses the CTC lab. In order to use a computer in the CTC lab, you need to log onto the computer with your CTC User name and password. For more information,
click here.

Do I really need to learn all these programming terms?

Yes. Learning the vocabulary is part of learning any discipline. If you have trouble learning the terms, make yourself some flash cards and spend 5 minutes a day reviewing the terms. Within a short time you will know them.

Where can I find a good glossary of computer terms?

The computer and information technology disciplines use thousands of terms. This course uses many of those same terms. Since there are so many terms, it is usually faster to find the term you are looking for using a search function. Any of the following is a good source.

Which Programming Language Should I Study?

You should learn whatever programming languages you need to accomplish your goals. That said, most students have one of the following goals:

Meet requirements for their major

Improve their chances of getting a job

Determine whether or not programming is a good career choice

Meeting Requirements for a Major

You can get an idea of which programming languages to learn by consulting the course catalog for your intended major and transfer university. To determine which Cabrillo College courses are transferable, you should visit the assist.org web site and meet with a counselor. The following links may be useful for Cabrillo College students in determining which courses to take:

Improving Your Employability

Computer software, engineering and networking jobs are still projected to be the fastest growing job categories in the U.S. For more information,see the US Department of Labor Site: Fastest-Growing Occupations.

So which programming languages do employers want software professionals to know? A good indicator is the TIOBE Programming Community Index. This site measures the popularity of programming languages by counting their hits on the most popular search engines. The index is updated monthly using web search engine results. For instance, in August 2016 the most popular programming languages in order were:

Java

C

C++

C#

Python

To maximize your employability, you should learn both C/C++ and Java at a minimum.

Why can't I use PhotoShop in the CTC?

PhotoShop is a commercial application and Cabrillo strictly follows all laws pertaining to use of commercial software. For students in the Digital Media program, Cabrillo has purchased an extremely limited number of user licenses. The licenses are limited because funding to community colleges is extremely limited.

If we allow you to use PhotoShop when you are not enrolled in an appropriate course, then we must allow all students to use that software. This would prevent students who are enrolled in classes from using the software.

Course Materials

Can students influence which topics are covered during the course?

Yes. The course will cover the objectives listed in the Course information page. Beyond those objectives, we can choose additional topics of interest. Your instructor wants to make this course relevant to you.

Is it possible to get bugs fixed on the class web pages?

If I do not buy the textbook, or use another version of the textbook, can I still pass the class?

If you are resourceful, you can get by without using the textbook or with using another version of the textbook. However, you are still responsible for any reading and assignments from the textbook. The instructor will not provide you with alternate reading or copies of any material from the textbook. You are on your own if you do not purchase the correct edition of the textbook.

Can I have my "tutor" do my homework?

No. You are cheating if you allow anyone to do any part of your homework assignments, unless specifically authorized in the written assignment instructions. Tutors must follow the same rules as any other non-student. See your course information page or syllabus for more information.

Grades

Will you look over my assignment before I submit it and tell me if it is correct?

No. If I were to "look over" your assignment before it was graded then I would have to look over every student's assignment. This would mean that I grade every student at least twice but only assign grades after everything is correct. Part of learning is to find errors and correct your own work. However, I will answer specific and reasonable questions.

According to my calculations, I got 89.9% in the course and I received a "B". I was only one-tenth of a percent away from an "A". Can't you give me an "A"?

An "A" means you have done excellent work throughout the course. It does not mean a "marginally excellent" student. If you earn 90.0% or more, you will receive the "A" grade you earned. If you got 89.9% the you earned a "B", which signifies that you did "above average" work, and there is no shame in being above average.

Canvas

How do I upload my assignment files to Canvas?

After logging in to Canvas and selecting the course, click the Assignments link and then click the link for the assignment. To start the upload process, click the Submit Assignment button in the upper right corner of the page.

Select each file to upload by clicking the Browse... button After clicking the button, you will see a standard File Upload dialog for uploading a specific file from your computer. Click the Add Another File link to upload more than one file.

After you upload your files, click the Submit Assignment button to save your comments or uploads. On most assignments, you can make changes and resubmit files until the assignment is due.

If you want to verify that you submitted an assignment at a later time, just follow the links back to the assignment. At the right side or bottom of the assignment submit page you will see a listing of the assignment you submitted in the Submission area. You may download assignments from this area.

How do I change an assignment in Canvas?

You can change and resubmit an assignment up until the due date. If you have already submitted an assignment, follow the assignment link and press the Re-submit Assignment button. Then follow the same steps as you would for your first submission.

With Canvas, you must submit all your files at once. If you need to resubmit, you must upload ALL the files for the complete assignment. The instructor can only grade the files in the last submittal.

How do I tell what I submitted for an assignment in Canvas?

Verify what you submitted for an assignment by first clicking the Grades link. Locate the assignment in the list. To see what you submitted, click the hyperlink and view the Submission Details area. All your assignment files are listed and you can download or preview them to verify your work. Remember that only the last assignment submitted is graded. To resubmit, see How do I change an assignment in Canvas?

How do I view my test or quiz results in Canvas?

To view your test results, click the Quizzes link on the left-hand side of the course home page. This will list all the quizzes. Follow the link to the quiz. This will take you to a page where you can view your test or quiz results.